Why Naturepedic for Babies & Kids

Naturepedic has become the standard for safe and healthy organic baby and children's mattresses and is used by hospitals across the U.S.

Naturepedic products offer a much needed solution to the chemical and safety issues, as well as the quality and comfort concerns, of today's discerning parents. At Naturepedic, we use a different set of materials than what is commonly used, and here's why.

There is growing concern among physicians, health professionals, public safety officials, environmental advocacy groups, and consumers regarding the possible effects of chemicals on our children. Many researchers suspect that toxic chemicals are playing a significant role in the dramatic increase in childhood disorders. While some chemicals widely used in baby mattresses for decades have recently been banned (CPSC bans certain phthalates) and/or voluntarily removed (e.g. PBDEs), we believe there are still many issues.

Babies and toddlers spend 10-14 hours a day sleeping and playing on a crib mattress. As such, for the first few years of a child’s life, the mattress is the single most prominent object in the child’s environment.

At Naturepedic, we believe that education is the key to making the right decisions for your child. We have done the research and are happy to share our findings. At Naturepedic, your child’s health and safety is our #1 concern.

Why Choose a Naturepedic Mattress?

Simple. The health and safety of your child should not be negotiable.

Naturepedic products eliminate hazardous chemicals found in conventional mattresses while offering a more natural and non-toxic alternative for parents. In addition, Naturepedic does not sacrifice critical features and benefits such as waterproofing and a hypoallergenic design. With so many “organic/natural/eco” options available (cotton batting, soybean foam, coconut husks, natural latex/rubber, wool, etc.), it can be difficult to differentiate among the various offerings.

Naturepedic was founded by a quarter century environmental engineer familiar with hazardous chemicals. Through in-depth research, Naturepedic has identified and selected the most natural and non-toxic materials that make sense on a practical level. All Naturepedic products follow these principles and priorities:

Naturepedic backs up its product development with scientific data. In particular, Naturepedic products are regularly tested for chemical emissions and are certified by GREENGUARD® Gold Certification standard.

Naturepedic understands the harm that can come from toxic chemicals and allergenic materials, and is dedicated to the continual development of innovative high quality products that eliminate these risks. Naturepedic carries the most awards and endorsements of any children’s mattress company, as well as the best warranty in the industry.

What’s In a Naturepedic Baby Crib Mattress?

Certified Organic CottonOrganic cotton is the purest form of cotton, grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMO’s (genetically modified organisms). In mattresses, organic cotton is a healthier alternative to foams (which are chemically treated) and latex (which is allergy-prone). Naturepedic uses only U.S. grown and certified organic cotton filling in its mattresses.

Food-Grade Polyethylene(Waterproof models only)The surface of every waterproof Naturepedic mattress is so pure you can eat on it. Polyethylene is a plastic that is used throughout the food packaging industry for its purity and non-toxic properties. It has a very simple molecular structure that does not require chemical additives (as opposed to vinyl/PVC) and is favored by environmental groups all over the world. Naturepedic uses only polyethylene specially formulated to meet food contact standards, creating the finest non-toxic waterproof mattress surface available. Polyethylene is easy-to-clean and highly stain resistant while providing an excellent barrier to dust mites and other allergens. Does not contain any fire retardant chemicals or phthalates.

Note: Beware of advertisements for “coil count.” This figure does not give the number of coils in the actual mattress, but rather the number of coils in an equivalent full size mattress.

Wavesupport™ Lightweight TechnologyWavesupport is an exclusive Naturepedic innovation designed to provide exceptional support with about half the weight of an innerspring mattress (11 lbs instead of 22 lbs on average). Wavesupport is made from pure food grade polyethylene and makes changing sheets a breeze! Unlike most lightweight mattresses on the market, Wavesupport contains no polyurethane foam! Wavesupport also does not contain any fire retardant chemicals.

Non-GMO Potato-Starch PLA BattingPLA is an amazing new fiber that's made entirely from plants. It wicks away moisture, offers a comfortable resiliency, and does not off-gas harmful chemicals. In fact, it is used in food packaging materials and a number of biomedical applications such as sutures, stents, and drug delivery devices. PLA is an alternative to petroleum-derived products with excellent comfort attributes. Read More.

Fire Protection - Done The Right WayAt Naturepedic, we don't like chemicals, and we certainly don't like fire retardant chemicals! We consider the best form of fire protection to be superior product design that avoids the need for these chemicals in the first place. Organic cotton, for example, is a far superior filling material and is significantly less flammable. Through extensive research and creative product design, we've eliminated the need for fire retardant chemicals and FR barriers in our products. After all, the safest chemicals are none at all! Meets all Federal and State flammability standards. Read More.

What’s NOT In a Naturepedic Baby/Kids Mattress?

Questionable ChemicalsNaturepedic follows the precautionary principle and eliminates questionable chemicals in the first place. Naturepedic also avoids the use of certain conventional mattress materials such as vinyl/PVC and polyurethane foam in favor of materials such as food-grade polyethylene and organic cotton. In addition, Naturepedic eliminates all fire retardant chemicals, perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), and antibacterial biocides.

Allergenic MaterialsNaturepedic avoids the use of materials with well known allergenic properties (i.e. latex and wool) for all its baby and children's products. According to the FDA, a product containing latex cannot be labeled as “hypoallergenic.” Coir (or coconut husks) also contains latex as a bonding agent.

Wool intrinsically contains lanolin and certain alcohols known to have allergenic properties. Other allergens originate not with the wool itself, but with the chemical treatments applied. When it comes to babies, we believe a more precautionary approach is appropriate.

More Specifically: NO Flame Retardants or Flame Retardant Barriers NO Memory Foam or Other Forms of Polyurethane Foam NO Soybean or Biobased Foam (polyurethane foam with soybean oil mixed in) NO Latex, Wool or Other Commonly Allergenic Materials NO Polyurethane Coated Nylon or Damask Fabrics NO Antibacterial Treatments or Biocides NO Glues or Adhesives NO GMO Cotton or other GMO fibers NO Shoddy Insulator Pads

Safety

“To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and prevent suffocation, put your baby to sleep on his/her back in a crib on a firm, flat mattress. Make sure there is no soft bedding underneath your baby.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission clearly recommends a firm flat sleeping surface for babies. All Naturepedic organic baby crib mattresses are designed to meet this safety recommendation. Avoid contoured surfaces as well as softer quilted surfaces often found on other organic baby crib mattresses. Also avoid adding any soft bedding in the crib.

Ensure a Snug Fit in Your Baby's Crib

It's very important that your crib mattress fits properly in your baby's crib. A good safety test allows for no more than two fingers to fit between the mattress and the bars/side of the crib. Naturepedic baby crib mattresses are designed to fit snugly, but if you encounter an unsafe gap, please call us immediately and we will gladly do whatever we can to help resolve the problem.

Keep Small Objects Out of Your Baby's Crib

Small objects can be a choking hazard. Check your baby's crib carefully everytime you put her down in her crib. Naturepedic mattresses do not use metal air vents as these can dislodge and become a choking hazard.

A Hygienic Crib is a Healthier Crib

Aside from comfort enhancements, mattress pads are always recommended as a way to protect your baby's crib mattress and keep it clean and hygienic. Non-waterproof crib mattresses that get soiled can easily grow mold and bacteria resulting in a potentially unhealthy situation. Even waterproof mattresses that aren't properly cleaned can grow bacteria on the surface. Use a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide to keep the mattress surface clean and hygienic.

Links & Resources

We use materials such as organic cotton fabric, organic cotton fill, potato starch plant-based PLA batting, and steel innersprings in place of memory foam, other forms of polyurethane foam and synthetic fabrics.